Category: Information and Communications Technology

  • Your wallet is attacked by Petrol Tax!

    Your wallet is attacked by Petrol Tax!

    You are paying 200% tax on the petrol or diesel that you are buying. Believe it or not, it is actually true. 200% is indeed too much to think, but an Indian today buying fuel is paying this much amount of tax. This includes both for and against this government.

    The only tax that grew, year on year!

    India has famously avoided getting Petrol/Diesel as part of GST. Both Centre and States are responsible for it as they see it as a cash-cow that they can milk to the most. In a quasi-federal state set up that India has, the GST was always an exception.

    Source: Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.
    The chart clearly shows that the Excise Duty is the only tax income for government that has grown.
    Source: Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.

    Excise Duty is the only tax revenue that grew as compared to 2019 – which should be surprising given every other tax revenue has fallen due to the lock-down measures. But it is not. Because we know that Govt has been raising the taxes and cess on Petroleum fuels constantly.

    You are being taxed unfairly - A unmanned car at petrol pump
    You are being taxed unfairly – A unmanned car at petrol pump

    Deregulated Petrol Prices, an eyewash?

    Normally, the price of fuel after deregulation was linked to the Crude Oil prices. That has changed in the current regime. When the global prices started hitting the low, the Govt. instead of reducing the price, increased the taxes.

    They did what the Chinese do – take two steps forward, and take one step back. The excise duty on petrol was increased by ₹3 per litre in March. In the month of May, they again raised by ₹10 per litre. So much so that, today it stands at ₹32.98 per litre.

    Costliest Petrol in Asia?

    Petrol that you buy in Delhi ₹81.12 per Litre today is among the highest you pay for petrol in India. In Islamabad (PK), the price for a litre of petrol is ₹46.29, in Colombo (SL) it is ₹54.86, and in Kathmandu (NP) it is at ₹66.52.

    Nepal buys petrol from India, at half the cost you and me pay for a litre. That in itself is a clear indication of how unfair the prices are taxed. Even importing a car attracts only 60% to 100% duty, but you and me pay more than 200% taxes on Petrol.

    With COVID19, consumption sure has taken a hit given a lot of users are now working from home in the urban areas, while consumption of diesel has more or less is back to pre-Covid levels. The difference is marginal and indeed the govt of India is making a lot of money from the petrol taxes.

    The only hope is – it all be used for the right purposes.

     

  • Indianomics.co.in is now secure!

    Indianomics.co.in is now secure!

    Hey, people! The site you are browsing now is secure now with a Secure Sockets Layer or SSL that encrypts the data that will transfer between the hosting server of my site and your computer or mobile device.

    What does this mean?

    It was not common place to get a certificate for a website that is not indulging in a financial transaction till a year ago. However, of late, there seems to be an upswing to this trend. Browsers detect any physical input by the user as an interaction, be it a comment or using a contact form.

    Hence, it has become imperatives that some day soon, every website will need to be encrypted. Sooner, the better.

    Mine is just a blog, so do I need to have an SSL too?

    See, Google pretty much controls most of the means of access to an internet site. Be it with the browser, mobile or search engine. More than 90% of the people who access internet use Google in some form of another. That does scare a lot of us, yet it also helps Google to dictate terms.

    Both Apple (Safari) and Google will soon start informing users on sites that are not secure. To start with, Google will warn users when they are in the Incognito mode or private browsing. If you have any forms (comments are forms) running on your website, then Apple and Google will require you to be HTTPS secure. Failing to have an SSL will prompt the browser to issue a warning to the user.

    Now, you need to have a really smart user to identify if the warning is unnecessary or she/he would want to stop in their tracks and not access your blog! In the days and times of internet where hacking a website is simple, for an alert user, a subtle warning can stop him in his tracks and rethink if he wants to hit the site or close the window.

  • ISI Mark has lost its sheen?

    ISI Mark has lost its sheen?

    As a kid, I remember seeing the ISI mark advertisements promoting the new standards. The government was very much active in propagating it, and soon even manufacturers started adding it to their adverts. It soon became the standard it intended out to be, thanks to the push from the Government to make it mandatory for everyone to comply with it.

    In last two years, I had purchased a few electrical goods that didn’t do great but had the ISI mark on it intact. But I do know for sure that its quality was compromised by the components used to make them. I thought to myself whether I should buy ISI marked goods solely because it is marked ISI, or look at other standards.
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  • Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) may be setup in India

    Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) may be setup in India

    Ever since I have read that China is building a high altitude observatory, I was very jealous. Being built at Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China, it is designed to detect cosmic rays. I envy the pace at which China was developing its next generation of tools for scientific and space exploration. It only made me wonder why India has not much thought about it.

    Given that we are already advanced in Space exploration, but China is catching up and fast. The little Indian heart that I have, does not let me believe that India should be left behind, by none other than China to say the least. So, when I read about the TMT eyeing a place in India – I want to say snap it up while it is available.

    TMT or the Thirty Meter Telescope project is a not for Profit organization, which is working to get a giant, 30 meter telescope installed to observe the universe.
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  • The new race to win the 4G race

    The new race to win the 4G race

    After years of waiting, the 4G is finally here. Exactly, the Airtel girl has been yakking about it for ages now but the true arrival of 4G for me is now. It is when the competition starts off.

    Airtel made the first move, and others followed as soon as they can implement their own version on to their networks as early as possible. And as you all may already know, the pace of the launches are all keeping an eye on the Jio bomb that Mr. Ambani has been readying.

    The news of launch have been leaked quite a few months ago, and ever since this has been one race against the clock to gain advantage while Reliance is readying their arsenal. Airtel had a first mover advantage when they launched 4G, but how many new subscribers got added is something that is not very clear. Also, most of the additional connections have been the portable Wi-Fi devices – still a win for Airtel.
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  • 4 months away from an idiot box

    4 months away from an idiot box

    So I moved into my new house about 4 months ago, and I have not got a TV yet for my home. It has been those four months where I did feel missing the TV around the house, and it absence has definitely helped me use my laptop more. Err.., that is not why I didn’t get the TV yet but then again, I do miss it.

    That idiot box is being missed by my wife has been turning this thought around of avoiding TV for some weeks now, especially with my wife wishing to catch up the ongoing T20 after coming home. As I spoke to a colleague today, realized that her child has learned a lot from watching youtube.com and TV also kind of rekindled the thought to get one. The decision is still not been made, but mostly I would give in.

    And the reason why I would give in has nothing to do with what others are saying. It has to do with what I am missing out on. If you remember one of my previous posts on the idiot box was about my craze for wild life, travelling and science channels, I have been missing watching them as well. The idiot box, after all is not idiot if the one watching on the other end is thoughtful enough. Not having TV around also means that I am missing out on learning something new from this medium. Watching such channels was never frowned up on by my family unless it was becoming a daily affair and made them miss their regular shows.

    The idiot box, after all is not idiot if the one watching on the other end is thoughtful enough.

    And one of the things that I want my daughter to do is to pick up these good habits that I have. Like reading when she grows up or never to stop learning – the two of my activities that has held me in good stead. The third one could be blogging, but she is still too young to do that just yet and I would let her decide if she wanted to do it.

    What do you think about your idiot box at home? Have you ever thought of getting disconnected from it?

  • Air India to fly all women crew on March 8!

    The flag carrier of India will be flying an all women crew this March 8 to celebrate Women’s day on a flight to San Francisco. This will include 4 pilots (2 each in 2 shifts for the unintended) and the whole cabin crew during the 15 hours Delhi-San Francisco. To top it and make it even more interesting, the flight dispatcher and flight engineer will also be women.

    So if you are flying to SF on 8th of March, you are sure to support and celebrate Women’s day just by flying Air India. Yay, Celebrate women hood up at 35,000 Feet!

    I was wondering if a similar treatment will be meted out during International Men’s Day. Well, chances are that it won’t ever happen. Now, I have written in the past how fliers constantly nag about Air India’s older flight stewardess/hostesses and there are such a negative notion that many carry. Though people ignore that they are much more experienced. However, have you ever heard any one complain an aging male crew? Is it because it never happens? I am not sure, almost all the flights I ever flew had both male and female crew.

    The situation is what it is, and I cannot speak for everyone. But for me, it won’t matter if it is men or women who are flying or providing services in a flight as long as service are great and makes your journey comfortable and you get what you pay for. Air India remains my favorite (with patriotic bias stepping in)

    What I think Air India or any other airline should do is – ensure you have an All Women Crew on at least 1 flight every day. That would help you celebrate women hood. Every. Freaking. Day.

  • Why you must keep reading?

    I was having a conversation with my team members about the impact of reading and was surprised that people had so limited view of what is in store for them. Blame it on them not having met me before :). Jokes apart, they never got anyone in their family or circle of friends tell them these things. It is another matter that they should feel it within them, but it never occurred to me before I started as well so can’t blame them.

    I spoke to them about the tiny islands of Tokelu and Tuvalu from my list of must visit destinations before I die, and they were totally surprised such places even exist. Showed them what Aurora means, how fascinating it is and what causes it. However, I could not digest the fact that they did not even recollect the difference between nuclear fusion and fission they learned in schools. (more…)

  • Magzter: Why no Windows app yet?

    For those who love the Windows Phone and Windows 8/10, getting the right apps has always been a challenge – thanks in part to Google, who refused to budge. This includes many famous services like Snapchat, Quora etc., who have so far not divulged into the Windows ecosystem yet. So far as Snapchat CEO stating they will never develop for Windows.

    The Facebook and Instagram (MSFT has stake in both of them via 26 million shares in FB) apps are not as slick as the ones found on Google and Apple. That bit may not go well with a lot, but the apps at least are very usable.

    Well, this rant is directed towards Magzter. I have been a customer of Magzter since long, even upgraded to their Gold Membership. It is a compelling product. My primary reading device is a 4 year old iPad 2 which has been in a great shape. I do like Apple, but not as much as my Windows Phone and PC. The Metro UI got me hooked, and Google’s pathetic attitude of late (being the Evil, Microsoft once was) made me a hater. Buying into a Samsung Galaxy Note I with Android on top was the last nail in the coffin, with this acquisition lasting only 6 months for a flagship.

    Everyone knows Android sucks on devices with less than 3GB RAM and an top processor but still would cling on to it – it is too difficult to explain my love for Windows too, so lets leave it at that.

    I do understand the semantics of having multiple platform support, including that of the costs – but there are so many developers who are ready to help for 1/4 of the cost it would otherwise take Magzter to build an app at first place. So why not? You will have at least 3% more people to tap into and based on what we have seen, Windows 10’s adoption rate has been pretty good – so the universal app way should get the overall market share for Windows go up as well.

    So, hopes are intact for now. Just sent them another email, checking if they are indeed developing something for Windows 10. This story will be updated based on their response.

  • TATASky: This is your stupidity and pathetic service! (update)

    TATASky: This is your stupidity and pathetic service! (update)

    I have to say that this the most pathetic service I ever got from any company. I have been subjected to many scenarios across many companies but so far they have managed to outlast all others and stoop to such levels. What is worst, they send you reminders that they haven’t paid the money to keep the account active, and also ensure feedback calls are made to customers!

    Yes I am talking about you Tata Sky!

    It’s been 10 Days

    TATASKY Work Order completed even before the scheduled time!! Of course when no one is visiting to check the issue, they saved time so it is bound to closed before time…

    It has been 10 days since I lodged the second complaint (first one was on 8th March when only a few channels weren’t available) and to my utter surprise the request has been closed on pretext of having completed the work order within ONE MINUTE! Look at the time difference in the above screen: 5:50 pm I receive the message that my request was scheduled for resolution and 5:51 pm it is resolved?  All this while no one turned up at my house to check the complaint at first place. Absolutely not.

    True, when TataSky was unable to assign someone to work on my problem, they gave me 5 days (3 days first and 2 days later) of subscription extension as a benefit for the delay from their end. But surprise, SURPRISE! If my connection itself isn’t working what am I supposed to do with that!!!

    Who was supposed to resolved issue? TataSky Kalyan Installation Center, but no one turns up from there. 

    Surprise! SURPRISE!! If my connection itself isn’t working what am I supposed to do with bonus credits for 5 days!

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  • What is Microsoft doing right, and wrong for Windows Phone?

    Well to those who know me, I am an Windows Phone fan, so much so that my entire family now has windows phone (I bought them). But off late, I am unhappy about a few things that I need to voice it out.

    Windows Phone 8 showed immense promise to the world, with its Metro UI and 8.1 just enhanced it. But since then, Microsoft has been pretty much playing catch up with iOS and Google’s Android. Last it was known, Android had pretty much of 80% market share which is rather impressive if you also know that it is the newest software platform here. iOS, when launched, was based on Mac OS X and Microsoft always made its mobile OS and had often positioned it as the Business Phone. But Microsoft being the most experienced has had not been able to transform it all to this new OS.

    The Apps of the Ecosystem (more…)

  • All new Chrome tab with Google Search integrated, and how it benefits Google?

    Google released an all new version of Chrome which includes major changes on the tab design and interface for Chrome Apps. The new change also brings Google Doodles for that country (google.co.in doodle for India) to tab and you do not have to open the site to see.

    With Ominibar, a lot of people (like me) missed the Doodle since they hardly access the search engine’s home page. This may be a good way to force them to see the Google Doodle. At the same time, I know people who do not use Ominibar for search. For them, a visit to Google.com or Google.co.in is a must. (more…)

  • Problems with Add-On domains on CPanel

    PS: This is a post which is a direct outcome of a discussion on IndiBlogger forum.

    The question was whether Google and other Search Engines treat Add-On domains differently? The direct answer is no, but it does affect your SEO efforts. The culprit here being CPanel, the trusted and proven Web Hosting Manager used by most of the Hosting Service Providers.

    I could not find a single post telling me everything I need, and I had to read through many forum threads to understand the issue. Hence I thought of putting it all together in a post, hoping to help fellow readers.

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